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Claire Headley, who told The Post she was once a highly ranked member within the Church of Scientology, was meeting a business client Wednesday when she received the call that Danny Masterson had been found guilty of raping two women.
The “That ’70s Show” actor, a longtime Scientologist, could be looking at 30 years to life in prison when his sentencing takes place in August.
“I was incredibly relieved,” Headley, who testified for the prosecution, told The Post. “I am incredibly grateful that justice was served for these women who persisted through an awful lot.”
A Los Angeles jury found Masterson, 47, guilty on two of three felony rape charges.
This was his second trial for the offenses, after jurors deadlocked during an earlier trial in November.
This time, verdicts were reached on two of three rape charges, brought by Jen B. and N. Trout (Jane Does 1 and 2). The third, brought by the actor’s former girlfriend Chrissie Bixler (filing as Jane Doe 3), was undecided with a vote of 8 to 4 against Masterson.
“Jane Doe 3 is happy to see some consequences for Masterson’s criminal behavior,” attorney John Kucera told The Post.
He will be representing four plaintiffs, including Jane Doe 3, in an upcoming civil case against Masterson, the Church of Scientology and David Miscavage, alleging harassment. “Jane Doe 3 is disappointed that the jury was unable to reach a conviction in her case but the state can re-charge if it so chooses.”
The Church of Scientology was not a defendant in the most recent case. However, according to Tony Ortega, an outspoken critic of Scientology who publishes “The Underground Bunker” and was present for the entire trial, “usually, on most days, there was a representative of Scientology in the courtroom.”
Allegations were made that followers of the religion played a role in discouraging two of Masterson’s alleged victims from going to law enforcement.
“The victims’ testimony was that they had been threatened or intimidated by Scientology, which led them to not report [their allegations],” a source close to the case told The Post. “[Scientology] said that the charges needed to be handled internally.”
A spokesperson for Scientology denied this, saying, “The church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone — Scientologist or not — to law enforcement.
